NFL Spotters Totally Missed Carson Wentz's Concussion and He Had to Volunteer it Himself

For the most part, concussion specialists performed effectively throughout the 2019 NFL season in determining when players were required to undergo evaluation for head injuries.

Unfortunately, that positive trend came to an abrupt halt during Sunday's Wild Card clash between the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles.

Somehow, spotters didn't conclude that Carson Wentz, who was body-slammed into the turf by Jadeveon Clowney, was demonstrating concussion-like symptoms.

Dr. Allen Stills, the NFL's chief medical officer, released a statement on Monday which disclosed that certified athletic trainer spotters and "unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants" came to the conclusion that Wentz didn't "seem to exhibit behavior or symptoms suggestive of concussion."

That is the epitome of shocking, and Wentz deserves massive credit for taking the initiative to remove himself from the game. Ironically enough, Josh McCown was the first person he told that he was feeling woozy.

"We talked on the bench, and obviously he expressed concern and told me to stay ready," said the 40-year-old vet. "Wentz has put a ton into this season and to get to this moment, especially the things that he’s gone through. It’s a tough call. But he is sitting there not feeling right and obviously knew he needed to get checked. For the state of our game and the questions that come around those types of injuries, I think it’s a step forward. It’s progress.”

Sure, Wentz's moxie can be viewed as a step forward from the perspective of today's players having the awareness to remove themselves from a game, but for the NFL, it's an unequivocal step backwards after a season comprised of progress. The fact that spotters failed to identify Wentz's symptoms is incredibly worrisome.